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Colbert ribs NY mayor about planned Italy trip

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH'-zee-oh) has taken a ribbing from Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert about his planned trip to Italy during a possible commuter rail strike.

The Democratic mayor made his first appearance on "The Colbert Report" on Wednesday night. The topics discussed in the lighthearted 8-minute interview included income inequality, universal pre-K and a potential Long Island Rail Road strike set for Sunday.

During the taping of the show de Blasio was noncommittal on whether he'd cancel his planned 10-day trip to Italy on Friday, saying he's hopeful there'll be a resolution avoiding a strike. He quipped stranded riders would have to talk to his wife about whether they could crash at the Gracie Mansion mayoral residence.